To think concert cancelling has become far too prevalent

[MXVIT]

and I think its a terrible precedent to have been set

I am probably just an unfeeling wench but I think it is dreadful how easy this has become to do, Lewis Capaldi taking three weeks off to be "Lewis from Glasgow" again bascially saying "I know you've forked out on hotels and travel, and thanks, but sorry"

For me it just shows a huge disrespect to fans. When you're a rich and famous star (all from the hard earned money from your fans) and all of the luxury that that life affords - you don't get to turn it on and off, and I'm sorry, but you don't get to put yourself first 100% of the time. Thats the trade off.

I would never buy tickets to concerts again after the spate of this happening. Adele, Sam Smith, Lewis etc.

AIBU ?

His tics are literally stopping him performing properly during his songs. They're worsening every time he's under more stress. He's still learning to navigate life with tourettes. He's also clearly vulnerable, I believe he's neurodivergent, and he's stuck between knowing he needs to do the dates secured for him but that he also needs to break long enough to help control his condition.

It's shit but life happens. I'd hope that moving forward, his management company could be more compassionate and not book so many venues for dates so close to each other, so it was more manageable.

I know what you mean cant reacall this every happening in the 80s/90s-i get he has mh but to say i need to rest so i can do glastonbury is a kick in the face for his fans who forked out for just him

I think he shouldnt have put the emphasis on Glasto. If he's unwell he's unwell and his schedule needs to be cut right back. the decision will have been made by the machine around him, he's a very small part of that.

I agree that the statement from LC that essentially said “I feel kind of bad that my fans will lose money on hotels and travel but, oh well 🤷‍♀️” showed a real lack of respect and… work ethic?

I guess the real issue is management over-working him and scheduling too many commitments for him. Bearing in mind his struggles with performing live and Tourette’s, clearly this is an artist who shouldn’t be on an intense touring schedule.

But there’s an album to promote and everyone knows that artists only really make money from touring so…

Snowflake generation? Do erasure count despite being old enough to be Lewis' grandad? Because they didn't even give a reason.

Adele was an absolute joker doing what she did in vegas.

Of course things got cancelled in the 80s and 90s, you just didn't hear about it unless it affected you. No one was posting on MN about a canceleld Duran Duran concert.

But also the expectation was different too, artists were just plied with more drugs and alcohol than they could cope with and sent out on stage anyway. I don't see who really wins there, it puts someone at risk and its an awful show anyway.

i get he has mh

Everyone "has" mental health.

Yes, I was thinking this the other day. Either they are cancelling too easily when they could have just pressed on, or they are agreeing to too many tours. I don’t really go to many gigs and festivals anymore but how stressful to never be 100% sure it was going to go ahead. When I was going to gigs regularly back in the early 2000’s it was unheard of to cancel a gig! Some of them seem to be for silly reasons as well. ‘I’m on deaths door’ - ok. ‘I’m a bit tired and need some me time’ no.

Artists can't just cancel concerts because they feel like it. There are legal contracts in place.

I would imagine that Lewis has a medical issue that promoters are able to claim insurance on for a cancellation/reschedule.

Lots of shows are being cancelled now because of poor ticket sales.

And this is also your reminder to take ticket insurance and make sure you have refundable travel and hotels.

l

To get to the point that gigs are being cancelled there has to be a really good reason, because contracts and obligations etc will be in place. For a promoter to cancel a gig costs them a shitload of money and it won't be done lightly.

Yes, it sucks for the fans but ultimately these people are not performing monkeys, they are people who have problems just like the rest of us.

It’s really shit for the fans. I went to gigs monthly at least if not fortnightly for a few years in the ‘00s and I don’t recall anything getting cancelled… That said I agree that it’s likely to be a more serious medical issue than he’s letting on. But then he should say so.

Why should he say so? Not your business at all. He is entitled to a private life.

I think there is too much pressure and over scheduling from those above who are all out to make their money while he is at his most popular. It’s crap for fans who will lose out financially but I don’t think it’s necessarily Lewis who is at fault here, he seems quite vulnerable to me.

I’m not a fan of his and couldn’t really care less. But if I was letting down the very people who gave me my livelihood, who’d spent a lot of money on coming out to see me and support me, I would absolutely be a bit more honest with them. ‘I want to go home and be myself for a bit’ wouldn’t be acceptable in any other job.

@Mrsjayy - record companies have nothing to do with artist touring - they don’t organise it and for big artists like this they’re not funding it or earning from it.
min order to claim on the insurance (the venue, crew, musicians still need to be paid) an artist needs to be signed off sick. I doubt that Morrissey is insurable after his last minute meat in the venue cancellations, and Adele’s squabbles with Es Devlin would have cost her a personal fortune but I guess she thought it was worth it.
all this of course is grist to the ticket scalper mill as genuine fans leave it later to book

Haven’t read the full thread, however I think it’s a bit double standards this.

If a person with Tourette’s and anxiety, as Lewis has, or Crohn’s, MS any number of other disabilities wanted to enter the civil service you wouldn’t stop them, nor if their condition worsened over time would you chastise them for taking time off to get better.

However, you are saying that people such as Lewis Capaldi be chastised for being ill. Because it is inconveniencing you….

Shit happens, he’s unwell.

Sam Smith had a vocal chord injury that became apparent mid concert and if not attended to would become permanent ending their career.

Adele cancelled concerts because people let her down and preparations were insufficient thanks to trying to put on such a big show with covid restrictions still in place.

Totally different situations, coincidental that they’ve all happened circa the same time with big names.

Concerts get cancelled from time to time for a variety of reasons. It is unfortunate, but this is why if you are travelling from elsewhere that travel insurance is important.

It's interesting that it's the younger artists doing this, and it seems to be applying to every aspect of life. People of our grandparents' generation saw commitments as commitments, rather than being flaky, self centred individuals who always put no 1 first and that's acceptable. I don't recall Rod Steward, Tom Jones, Simply Red etc cancelling concerts willy nilly. Young people and their me me me poor me mindsets, and it will only get worse.

oh come on she would have known way in advance it wasnt possible people had already flew into vegas for the show

He can't glibly blame "greedy management". He is the one who appointed his managers, he is the one who agreed to his workload. No one held a gun to his head!

If he's agreed to do too much, then that's on him and him alone.

Other artists control their workloads, ensure that they have adequate down time between concerts, recording sessions, etc.

Yes, concert runs are hard work, but artists know that. They are intensive because of all the entourage, backing singers/band, stage/lighting/sound staff, makeup/costume staff, transport vans, etc - they need to be night after night as nights off are wasted money. If he didn't want to do that, he could have said no!

How would you have known about concerts being cancelled pre-social media?

Agree it seems to be happening all the time at the moment. We took our kids on the train to London (£100) for a George Ezra concert this year, another £90 on an early dinner in the o2, walk out the restaurant to an announcement that the concert had been cancelled! £190 down and had to take our crying kids home 🙈 We then had to fork out another £100 in train tickets when the concert was rescheduled for the next month, but took sandwiches this time!
I understand that sometimes it’s totally unavoidable when someone becomes ill at the last minute…….. but this seems to be happening A LOT at the moment.

I know what you mean Op. I won't comment on any specific artist but this type of thing is one of the main reasons I wouldnt buy tickets to a concert where booking advance travel and hotels is needed anymore, it just seems to happen so frequently.

I wonder if artists are now more honest/open about MH struggles as the reason to cancel dates, whereas in the past they might have made an excuse like voice issues, injury etc?

What also grates on me is that later on down the line the star will then 'cash in' on their mental health issues by writing a book about it, or doing interviews which seems a bit crass.

You know ageism works both ways don't you?

Is it though? Or is that just raging ageism which no doubt you would moan about if it was aimed at you.
Morrissey cancelled a show because the venue was cold. At 63 he's no spring chicken.

I feel for him. There was no way he was ever going to manage that schedule. He's looked awful in clips from shows. He was going to injure himself or someone else.
And now he'll get the brunt of the backlash which won't do his health any good.

I do feel for those who booked travel and hotels, especially in the current climate.
And yes the announcement was really poorly worded.